Here is our story about little Hilda, as told by Julie Loiacano-Greenman, wife of the lovely Don Greenman.
It all started about 5 years ago when Don had a chance to purchase a 1953 Pre A Pascha Red Porsche from a gentleman that he met at our local Car & Coffee get together in Glendale, CA. After waiting a little over a year to purchase the ’53, we found out that he had changed his mind about selling the car. We were disappointed, but not shocked. It’s difficult for anyone to part with such a beauty! We figured it just wasn’t meant to be at that time.
During that waiting period, thinking we were going to own the ’53 Pre A Coupe, we started doing research into the history of the car. The 356 Porsche Pre-A has a rich history that starts in 1948 when Ferry Porsche and Erwin Komenda designed and built the first prototypes in Gmund, Austria. We fell in love with not only the beginning history of the Porsche 356, but the body style and design of the early Pre A Porsches.
Once the prospect of owning the ’53 was officially off the table, an extensive internet search began! As luck would have it, two weeks into the search Don found a beautiful, 1952 Fashion Grey 356 Porsche Pre A Coupe for sale in Cincinnati, Ohio. After several phone calls and emails with the owner, we struck a deal to purchase the car from what we’ve recently come to find was the 4th owner of the car.
In October 2022 the purchase was made! Our gorgeous 1952 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupe arrived at our garage in Glendale, CA in mid-December of 2022. I have to say that while I appreciate cars, I had no idea how much I would fall in love with this one. As soon as I saw her in front of me, I was awestruck. The gorgeous Fashion Grey color and the fact that the car is German conjured up the name “Hilda” in my mind and it stuck!
During that first car show several very knowledgeable Pre A 356 members from the Northern and Southern California clubs advised us on all the “incorrect” items that were not original on our car. We went on to find out about more items that needed correction at several subsequent Concours Events. That opened up a big can of worms! Don, being the stubborn perfectionist that he is, decided right then and there that our new quest was to make Hilda completely original. Off to the races we went!
Over the last 3 years and with the help of several Pre A enthusiasts and gurus that we have met through the 356 Registry, the PCA and the Southern California 356 Club, we have restored Hilda, literally down to every nut and bolt, to the authentic and original condition she was when she rolled off the assembly line in Stuttgart on July 12th 1952 and ended up on the showroom floor at Max Hoffman’s Porsche Dealership in Manhattan, New York in 1952.
This task could not have been completed without the help of all the amazing 356 experts we have met, some of which have become good friends. These lovely folks include – Victor Ingram, James Davies, Dr. Brett Johnson, James Wayman, John Wilhoit, John Paterek, Louis Paras, Robert Brocker and many other passionate 356 owners.
The last 8 months have been the most intense in getting all the last details and corrections completed. It turned out that we really did have a LONG list of items we needed to replace, add or change on our “Mid-Year” Pre A Coupe. We must have said “thank you” at least 1,000 times since beginning this passion project!
Here are the details of what we have that make Hilda such a special and beautiful piece of history!
- Numbers Matching Engine & Transmission #: 30453
- Pre A Porsche Coupe with the original Type 527 1.5 Litre Competition Motor
- Hirth Roller Bearing Crankshaft
- Serial #: 11569
- Rolled off the assembly line on 7-12-1952
- Serial # 11569 Engine # 30453
- Restored with all the Original Numbers Matching Body Panels #69
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Certificate of Production from the Reutter family
- Kardex Card
- Original factory color sample card with the colors of the exterior & interior of our 52’ Pre A
- Dunkel Blau dash and garnish rails with Phillips head screws
- Correct Broadcloth interior with leatherette vinyl
- Original Fashion Grey paint code #531 with Navy Blue Leatherette code #3326
- In 1952 only 782 coupes were built by Reutter in Stuttgart Germany.
- A total of 288 came to the United States and our 356 is 1 of 215 that has the export interim bumper with aluminum deco trim
- We elected to preserve the period correct aftermarket “Kraftstoff” fuel gauge and were told that installed them for safety reasons in the 50’s.
- Original fuel dipstick that came with the car in 1952
- Original owner’s (Don Larkin) California registration cards
- Original Maintenance Log Journal
- Original owner’s manual
- Original Porsche 1952 Porsche Pre A dealer brochure.
- It took an act of congress, but we now have the correct authentic 1952 Pre A tool kit.
- Original maintenance service log from the original owner.
- Telefunken ID52 Radio with original warranty book.
- Period Correct Beck Fuel Guage (John Paterek Approved)
- Correct hex-head accessory socket
- Period correct Sigla front windscreen
Judged Events from 2023 to 2025
- 2023 North Meets South Concours d’ Elegance Cambria, CA. – “Best in Show”
- 2023 San Juan Capistrano Concours d’ Elegance – 1st Place in the 356 Full Restoration Class
- 2023 Porsche Parade, Palm Springs, CA. – 2nd place in the 356 Class Full Restoration Class
Received the Gmund Gold Award for 298 Points
- 2024 San Marino Motor Car Concours d’ Elegance – 1st Place “Best in Class” in the 356 Class
- 2024 West Coast Holiday 356 Event Santa Barbara – Judge’s Legend Award “Best in Show”
- 2025 North Meets South Concours d’ Elegance Cambria, CA. – 1st place in the 356 Pre A Class
- 2025 Porsche Parade, OK City – 1st place in the 356 Full Restoration Class, Gmund Gold Award with 299.3 Points, HANS PETER PORSCHE and Grant Larson (Porsche’s Special Projects Designer) chose our 1952 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupe for the Honorary Judge’s Award.
- 2025 West Coast Holiday 356 Event Colorado Springs – Our 52’ Pre A 356 won “Best in Show”
- 2025 SGVR Concours d’ Elegance – Class Winner Full Concours Vintage CV1
- 2025 Ironstone Concours d’ Elegance – 356 Class – “Best in Class” winner.
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